In 2023, 7.6 percent of adults surveyed in the United States stated they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). This is an increase from 2012, when 3.5 percent of surveyed adults identified as LGBT. These four categories are among the most common sexual orientations and gender identities outside cis-heterosexuals.

Differences across ages and genders 

Zooming in, it is possible to see how the share of people identifying as LGBT changed considerably according to different demographics. Only two percent of Baby Boomers, indeed, reported being part of the LGBT community. On the other hand, among Generation Z individuals, this share reached almost 16 percent. Moreover, surveys suggest that women were more likely to identify as LGBT than men.

An ever-understanding society 

The fact that an increasing amount of people feel free and safe to openly identify as LGBT might be a consequence of the improved acceptance of the different sexual orientations and genders by the American people at large. While in 2001 more than half of U.S. citizens considered homosexual relationships to be morally wrong, 20 years later this percentage dropped to 30 percent. Support for same-sex marriage has also been consistently increasing, even among traditionally conservative political groups. Despite this, it is important to remember that every year hundreds of people are still victims of hate crimes in the United States simply because of their gender or sexual orientation.

In 2023, 8.5 percent of female respondents in the United States stated they identify as LGBT, while 4.7 percent of male respondents said the same. This is an increase from 2012, when 3.5 percent of female respondents and 3.4 percent of male respondents identified as LGBT.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Gay population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of Gay across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of Gay was 116, a 4.13% decrease year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, Gay population was 121, an increase of 5.22% compared to a population of 115 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Gay decreased by 37. In this period, the peak population was 153 in the year 2000. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Gay is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Gay population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Gay Population by Year. You can refer the same here

According to a survey conducted in 2022, 71 percent of respondents from the United States stated that gay or lesbian relations were morally acceptable. On the other hand, some 25 percent considered them to be morally wrong.

In 2022, about 22.3 percent of male-male householders in the United States were between 25 and 34 years old. A further 19.8 percent of householders in male-male couples were between the ages of 55 and 64 years old in that same year.

In 2022, about 72 percent of male-male couples in the United States were White, compared to 6.4 percent of gay couples who were Black or African American.

Gay marriage in the United States

In the mid-1990s, a majority of the U.S. population believed that same-sex couples should not be recognized by law, although this figure has been on the decline since then. In 2011, more than 50 percent of Americans believed the opposite, saying that homosexual couples should be recognized by law. 2015 saw a spike in support, and on June 26 of that year, the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges.

Being LGBT in America

The share of Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) has been on the rise since 2012 and it is estimated that there are about one million same-sex couples in the U.S. Additionally, about half of surveyed people in 2019 believe that one is born gay or lesbian – a significant increase from 1977, when only 13 percent of respondents said the same.

This statistic shows Americans' views from 2001 to 2024 as to whether gay and lesbian relations are morally acceptable or morally wrong. In 2001, 53 percent of respondents stated they believe gay or lesbian relations to be morally wrong. In 2024, 33 percent said the same.

Between 2015 and 2018, 88 percent of U.S. lesbian/gay home buyers were White/Caucasian. Only seven percent of lesbian or gay home buyers were Hispanic/Latino during the same period.

In the United States, the share of Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than heterosexual has more than doubled in the last 12 years, from 3.5 percent in 2012 to 9.3 percent in 2024.

A survey conducted in 2022 in the United States found that young adults were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms, and this was particularly true among those who identified as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender). Nearly 61 percent of LGBT respondents aged 18 to 29 reported anxiety symptoms. This statistic shows the percentage of adults who reported anxiety symptoms in the United States in 2022, by age and LGBT status.

According to a 2022 survey conducted in the United States, the share of adults who experienced depression symptoms was greater among those who identified as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender) across all age groups. As of August 8, 2022, approximately half of LGBT adults aged 18 to 29 experienced depression symptoms, compared to nearly 29 percent of non-LGBT respondents. This statistic shows the percentage of adults who reported depression symptoms in the United States in 2022, by age and LGBT status.

In 2021, around 14 percent of individuals living in the District of Columbia identified as LGBT. Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon also had high rates, exceeding ten percent. Mississippi and North Dakota had the lowest rates of LGBT populations, the only states with less than five percent.

In 2023, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina were the countries in Latin America with the highest percentage of people who agreed with same-sex marriage. More than 50 percent of respondents in those three countries supported it.

This statistic shows the results of a survey among adults in the United States regarding whether they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, or not. The survey was conducted from January 1, 2015, through December 30, 2016 in all federal states. During the survey, 8.6 percent of respondents in the District of Columbia stated they identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Undergraduate research has been identified as a high-impact educational practice. However, despite the body of evidence on the outcomes of undergraduate research, few studies have focused on the influences students face regarding participation. Developed using Science Capital and Social Cognitive Career Theory, a survey comprised of potential influences to undergraduate science research participation was disseminated to science majors at four R1 institutions in the Southeastern United States. Participation rates across several demographic factors and effect of participation influences were analysed. Results reveal a significantly greater proportion of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus (LGBTQ+) and disability communities indicating participating in research than their peers. Additionally, fourteen participation influences were identified as having a significant difference in their level of influence to the ability to participate in research between researchers and non-researchers. These include professor influence, interest in research, interest in science, coursework in the major, and major all being rated as opportunities with a significant difference of effect between researchers and those who have not yet participated in research. The results of this study will be beneficial for science departments and their respective institutions to improve the equity of access to their undergraduate research experiences.

The support for same-sex marriage in the United States increased overall between 2016 and 2024. However, there was a decrease in support across both parties in 2024. According to a survey conducted across the years, this increase was particularly relevant among Republicans. This was consistently the party group least in favor of gay marriage, but in 2021, for the first time, a slight majority of Republicans showed support for it. In 2024, 83 percent of the Democrats' electorate thought that same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid.

This statistic shows the metropolitan areas in the United States with the highest share in inhabitants identifying as gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual. In 2014, the San Francisco - Oakland - Hayward metro area in California had the highest share of LGBT population with 6.2 percent.

As of April 2024, 55 percent of the LGBT population lived in the 50 states and the District of Columbia where private health insurance service providers weren't allowed to deny coverage for transgender-related health care services, such as sex reassignment surgery. However, only 40 percent lived in states where health insurance protections included sexual orientation and gender identity.

LGBT Americans The share of Americans self-identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender has grown in recent years. This suggests that insurance protections which cover LGBT-related health care services will also continue to grow in importance. The prevalence of younger Americans self-identifying as LGBT when compared with older generations confirms this. Millennials and Gen Xers are much more likely to personally identify as LGBT than previous generations were. Growing acceptance and tolerance in wider society means that more people are willing to be open about their gender identity and sexual orientation. For instance, support for same-sex marriage in the U.S. underwent a huge shift over the past two decades with the majority of Americans being in favor of it since 2011.

In the United States, 51 percent of LGBTQ characters on cable networks in the 2023-24 season were white, while 30 percent of the characters were Black people. Moreover, the share of Latino characters was 7 percent.

In 2022, around 3.2 percent of lesbian couple householders in the United States were of Asian origin. Furthermore, about 70.2 percent of lesbian couple householders were white in that same year.